Economy 10 & hot water....

GhostDog_2

Feeling peeved here as just realised for the last 6 weeks we've had our immersion heater switched on CONSTANTLY when we should probably have had it on during economy hours only :eek:

The only hot water we use from the taps is for the washing up (in a bowl). No bath - only an electric shower. And I presume the washing machine is cold fill....

Not had a meter reading yet....and a little scared of actually reading it now!

I'm reckoning on about £100 per month for the two of us - working full-time and home at the weekend. :rolleyes:

smileypigface

Personally I wouldn't panic - the immersion will only use electricity when it is actively heating the water - if you've left it on constantly it will only need to heat when the temperature drops - this will happen a few times during 24 hours if untouched and obviously a few more times if you've run off hot water for washing up and the tank tops itself up with cold. HOWEVER, it's only having to heat in a short burst to bring the temp back up to the level you have set. Particularly if you have the tank well insulated so the temperature is maintained to the optimum.

Alternatively, if you had it set to go off at the end of the economy period then the entire tank would go cold until the next ecomony period started - at which point it would have to heat the entire tank from cold.

It would be interesting to attach one of the kill-a-watt gadgets to the immersion and compare the consumption for the two scenarios over a 24 hour period - my money would be on it being cheaper to leave it switched on constantly.

Any experts out there who know what the outcome would be?

Jonesya

It is always more efficient to turn things off when they're not in use. Heat losses through the tank/insulation depend on its temperature, if the heater is on continually with the tank always at normal operating temperature then the heat loss (and hence energy needed to maintain the temperature) will be greater than if the heater were switched off and the tank is allowed to cool.

This is true even when you include the energy needed to get the tank back to its original temperature.

I'd get yourself a timer switch fitted to the immersion heater.

smileypigface

Yes, most people I've spoken to have said the same - good job I have a comi-boiler so don't get to try out my crack pot idea!!:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

But, I would say, if you are only using the immersion for washing up ... then save a fortune and don't use it at all ... boil a kettle for washing up water .... that has to be cheaper ...... doesn't it??!!!!!??????:D

ormus

wash the plates/dishes straight after use in cold water!
or leave all the plates etc for one wash at the end of the day? (leave them to soak).
and yes boiling the kettle will be much cheaper. always just heat as much water as required, esp with electric.